a lifeline to academics at risk

The Network aims to facilitate cooperation and collaboration between UK higher education institutions in support of persecuted and at-risk academics, and in the defence and promotion of academic and university freedoms worldwide. 117 universities have so far committed themselves to support these aims.

To ensure institutional ownership, Network membership is established through the university’s senior management with the endorsement of the Vice-Chancellor. Universities wishing to join the Network should contact Stephen Wordsworth, Cara’s Executive Director, for more details.

Membership does not involve any specific binding commitment, but we assume that universities join because they want to support our work. Most do this by undertaking, in principle, to consider hosting a persecuted or at-risk academic, with a fee waiver and usually with other financial and in-kind support. The final decision on hosting in each specific case rests with the university. When a university joins the Network, they will also be asked to provide the name and contact details of one or more senior faculty members to act as Cara’s first point of contact for all enquiries, and be responsible for the dissemination of Network material within the university.

The full list of current members and their designated ‘contact point’ representatives is shown in the drop-down list below.

"To know that I have played a small part, not only in the career of a wonderful academic colleague, but in the safety and security of a young family is wonderful; but to understand the dedication, perseverance and effort of the Cara team behind the scenes is inspirational. We all exist with the idea of a strong global 'academic community'; Cara gives meaning to that idea."

Dr J. Bridge, Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography, Department of the Natural and Built Environment, Sheffield Hallam University (formerly Lecturer in Environmental Engineering, University of Liverpool)